LIGAMENTS OF THE CHEST. 



467 



-The ligaments con- 



FIG. 141. 



The middle costo-transverse ligament is situated behind the 



neck of the rib, and between it and Flo< ^Q. 



the front part of the corresponding 



transverse process. It is a short, 



strong ligament, which can only 



be seen by separating the bones, 



or making a horizontal section of 



them. 



These ligaments firmly connect 



the ribs and vertebras together, and 



also allow the ribs the necessary 



freedom of motion in the upward, 



downward, and slightly forward 



and backward directions. 



The sternal articulation of the fiibs.- 



necting the costal cartilages 



with the ribs and sternum are 



the anterior and. posterior, the 

 superior and inferior costo- 



sternal ligaments. The ster- 

 nal ends of the ribs are hollow 

 and receive the convex ends 

 of the cartilages by a species 

 of union somewhat resem- 

 bling gomphosis. 



The anterior costo-sternal ligament arises from the costal 

 cartilage and consists of a thin layer of ligamentous fibres 

 which radiate over the front of the sternum and intermix 

 with those of the opposite side, and with the fibres forming 

 the tendon of the pectoralis major muscle. 



The posterior costo-sternal ligament has the same ra- 

 diated arrangement of its fibres as the anterior, is smaller 



FIG. 140 represents the Ligaments at the vertebral end of the ribs, a a Lig- 

 aments of the spinous processes. 6 6 b Yellow ligaments, c Anterior or internal 

 costo-transverse ligament, d Posterior or external costo-transverse ligament. 



FIG. 141 represents the Ligaments about the Sternum and Ribs. 1 Capsular 

 ligament of the sterno clavicular articulation. 2 Interclavicular ligament. 

 3 Rhomboid or costo clavicular ligament. 4 Interarticular cartilage, 5 An- 

 terior costo sternal ligaments of the first and second ribs. 



